Ring puzzle with quick restoration means

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a puzzle of the type having a plurality of rings and posts with an elongated, closed loop threaded therethrough, the object of the puzzle being to remove the loop by an elaborate and lengthy sequence of manipulations of the rings and the loop. In order to be able easily to obviate mistakes in the solution of the puzzle or to replace the loop once it has been removed, the loop is formed with a removable portion so that it can be forthwith withdrawn and quickly rethreaded through the rings and posts.

United States Patent Winslow 1 RIN G PUZZLE WITH QUICK RESTORATION MEANS [72] Inventor: Louis M. Winslow, Rural Route 2,

Belle Plaine,, Iowa 52208 [22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 21 Appl. 190.; 94,507

[52] US. Cl. ..273/l58, 24/150 B, 24/158 S [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 9/08 [58] Field of Search ..273/l58, 159; 70/20, 26', 24/33, 150 B, 158 S; 287/20.l; 59/85, 87; 63/15.65, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,611 11/1942 Brociner ..70/20 X 2,915,891 12/1959 Vealey ..63/2l X 39,239 7/1863 Packer ..59/85 2,146,272 2/1939 Skoog ..63/15.65

[ Oct. 17, 1972 2,203,167 6/1940 Lodwick ..35/28.3 x

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 511,817 9/1920 France ..70/26 118,993 2/1927 Switzerland ..273/1 58 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney--Haven E. Simmons and James C. Nemmers [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a puzzle of the type having a plurality of rings and posts with an elongated, closed loop threaded therethrough, the object of the puzzle being to remove the loop by an elaborate and lengthy sequence of manipulations of the rings and the loop. In order to be able easily to obviate mistakes in the solution of the puzzle or to replace the loop once it has been removed, the loop is formed with a removable portion so that it can be forthwith withdrawn and quickly rethreaded through the rings and posts.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDncI n 1922 FIG 3.

INVENTOR.

LOUIS M. WINSLOW ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Puzzles of the type with which the present invention is concerned are old, probably very old. Various examples of them are shown, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,133,061; 1,589,305; 2,998,253; and 3,198,524; and in British patent 18,840 of 1907; French patents 437,330 of 1912, 722,734 of 1932, 749,311 of 1933, 754,143 of 1933 and 1,172,588 of 1958; Italian patent 640,807 of 1962; and Swiss patents 18,840 of 1907 and 118,993 of 1926. Essentially, each of these puzzles comprises a number of individual rings, each of which is articulately loosely connected to one end of a short post, all of the posts in turn being loosely anchored at their other ends in a common base member. An elongated, closed loop straddles the posts and passes through the rings in a uniform manner. To solve the puzzle, that is, to remove the loop, requires'a very lengthy series, depending upon the number of rings involved, or precise steps. Likewise, to replace the loop afterwards requires the entire procedure be repeated but in reverse.

Despite their age and fascination for many persons, puzzles of this nature have never become, so far as is known, widely enjoyed. They have apparently never caught on, so to speak. Perhaps the reason is simply that until the puzzle is thoroughly mastered, its solution is tedious, time consuming and frustrating because unless the proper steps are rigidly followed, the loop cannot be removed. Errors are as difficult to correct as it is to restore the loop to its starting position so that one can begin over again. Hence, the chief object of the present invention is to aid the mastery of puzzles of the sort concerned and consequently to increase their interest and enjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing object is achieved by means which are as effective as they may seem simple. The loop is equipped with a removable portion which upon its removal leaves the loop open so that it can readily be withdrawn from the rings and posts and then rethreaded thereon to restore the loop to its starting position. In two forms of the invention, the loop is formed with an open end; in one, the open ends are removably slipped into a solid block which not only closes the loop but is also shaped to provide a convenient finger grip by which the loop can be manipulated; in the other, a removable U-shaped piece of tubing is slipped over the open ends of the loop. Still another example of the invention forms the loop in two U-shaped portions spigoted to each other. Other means of accomplishing the foregoing can be employed, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of one version of a puzzle of the type concerned shown in its starting position, the loop having a removable finger grip in the form of a shaped block at one end.

FIG. 2 illustrates a removable loop for the puzzle of FIG. 1 in which the open end of the loop is closed by a U-shaped piece of tubing slipped thereover.

FIG. 3 shows yet another version of the loop concerned which is formed in two U-shaped pieces spigoted to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the six-ring example shown in FIG. 1, the puzzle consists of an elongated base member 10, of an inverted U-shape in cross section, which may be molded from any suitable plastic. Along the top of the base 10 are loosely anchored the lower ends of six upright posts Pl-6 which are formed from wire and which pass loosely through enlarged drillings in the top of the base 10, being retained therein by eye formed ends 12 on the underside of the base 10. The upper ends of the posts P1-6 are also formed to provide eyes 14 which loosely encompass a series of six rings Rl-6. Through the latter and straddling the posts P1 -6 is an elongated loop 16, also formed of wire, having ends 160 which are removably fitted into a molded block or finger grip 18 which closes that end of the loop 16 and provides a means both for manipulating the loop 16 and for removing it quickly and easily from the posts Pl-6 and rings R1-6. In the form shown in FIG. 2, the ends 16a removably receive the ends of a U-shaped piece of tubing 20 thereover, while in the version illustrated in FIG. 3, the loop 22 is formed in two U-shaped pieces 22a, 22b of substantially equal length along their sides. The open ends 24a are necked down and frictionally spigoted into the ends 24b, as indicated.

As noted, the object of the puzzle is to remove the loop from the rings and the posts. In the case of the six ring version shown, no less than steps are required to do so, all in a precise, predetermined pattern. Referring now to FIG. 1, which illustrates the puzzle in its starting position, the finger grip 18 (or the U-shaped end 20 or the closed end 22a, as the case may be) is held by the thumb and first finger of the right hand while the rings R1-6 are manipulated up or down with the thumb and first finger of the left hand, the loop 16 or 22 being slid left or right as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1.

To start, first pull the loop to the right until it stops at post P1. With the left hand lift rings RI and R2 up together around the left end of the loop. Slide the loop to the left, and then drop both rings R1 and R2 down through the loop. Pull the loop to the right until it stops at post P3. Lift ring R4 up around the end of the loop, and then drop R4 down through the loop. Push the loop to the left through ring R3 and over ring R2 as far as ring R1. Lift both rings R1 and R2 up through the loop by pushing them up with the second and third fingers of the left hand and then pinching them together with the thumb and first finger of the left hand as R1 and R2 emerge on top of the loop. Pull the loop to the right until it hits post P1 and then carefully drop ring R2 so that it falls around end of the loop. Push the loop to the left through ring R2 to ring R1, dropping ring R1 down through the loop. Pull the loop to the right until it stops at post P2 and lift ring R3 up around end of the loop. Then drop ring R3 down through the loop and slide the loop left through ring R2 as far as ring R1. Lift ring R1 up through the loop and retain it with thumb and first finger of the left hand. Slide the loop to the right to post P1, and then with the second and third fingers of the left hand pick up ring R2 around end of the loop. While holding rings R1 and R2 up together, slide the loop to the left past all the rings and then let rings R1 and R2 drop down through the loop. Hereafter the remainder of the instructions will be abbreviated, using: L loop; if left; rt right.

Now continue as follows: L rt; R6 up around end of L; R6 down through L; L If through R over R4 and R3; R1 and R2 up through L; L rt; R2 down around end of L; L lf; RI down through L; L rt; R3 up through L; R3 down around end of L; L If through R2; R1 up through L; L rt; R2 up around end of L; L If; R1 and R2 down through L; L rt; R4 up through L; R4 down around end of L; L lf through R3; R1 and R2 up through L; L rt; R2 down around end of L; L if; R1 down through L; L rt; R3 up around end of L; R3 down through L; L If through R2; R1 up through L; L rt; R2 up around end of L; L If; R1 and R2 down through L; L rt; R5 up around end of L; R5 down through L; L if through R4 over R3; R1 and R2 up through L; L rt; R2 down around end of L; L lf; R1 down through L; L rt; R3 up through L; R3 down around end of L; L if through R2; R1 up through L; L rt; R2 up around end of L; L If; R1 and R2 down through L; L rt; R4 up around end of L; R4 down through L; L If through R3; R1 and R2 up through L; L rt; R2 down around end of L; L If; R1 down through L; L rt; R3 up around end of L; R3 down through L; L If through R2; R1 up through L; L rt; R2 up around end of L; L lf; RI and R2 down through L; the loop is now free of the rings and posts. To replace the rings, start at the last step and reverse the procedure. Simply substitute down for up, left" for right, etc. and by backing through the foregoing instructions step-by-step the puzzle will be completely reassembled.

If at any time one loses his place, makes a mistake or becomes hopelessly lost, it is only necessary to pull the grip 18 (or the U-shaped end off the loop 16, or separate the loop 22, as the case may be, pull the loop 16 or 22 free of the posts P1-6 and rings Rl-6, rethread the loop 16 or 22 as illustrated in FIG. I, replace the grip 18 or end 20 or reassemble the loop 22 and start over. One can also use the same method to restore the puzzle to its starting position after solving it if one does not care to go through the step-by-step replacement procedure. Consequently, the attractiveness of puzzles of this type is greatly enhanced by the foregoing means by which mistakes can be easily and quickly corrected and by which the puzzle can be readily assembled and disassembled.

The invention is also applicable to other versions of the type of puzzle concerned, such as those shown in the foregoing patents, as well as to other shapes thereof. Hence, though the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, being the best modes now known of carrying it out, it is not limited to those embodiments alone. Instead, the following claims are to be read as encompassing all adaptations and modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In a puzzle of the type described having a plurality of post-like members and a plurality of ring-like members, said ring-like members being articulately attached adjacent the corresponding ends of respective ones of said post-like members, an an elongated, closed looplike member in interlocking engagement with respective pairs of said post-like and ring-like members so that said loop-like member can normally be disengaged from said post-like and ring-like members only by a series of prescribed manipulations of all of said members, the improvement comprising means for separating said loop-like member into two portions permitting rapid disengagement of said loop-like member from said post-like and ring-like members independently of said manipulations.

2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said means comprise said loop-like member having an open end providing a pair of end portions, and a shaped finger grip member removably fitted to said end portions and closing said loop-like member.

3; The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said means comprise said loop-like member having an open end providing a pair of end portions thereof, and an open U- shaped member having a pair of ends removably fitted to said end portions and closing said loop-like member.

4. The puzzle of claim I wherein said means comprise said loop-like member being formed to provide two elongated, U-shaped members, each having a pair of ends removably fitted to each other to form said loop-like member. 

1. In a puzzle of the type described having a plurality of postlike members and a plurality of ring-like members, said ring-like members being articulately attached adjacent the corresponding ends of respective ones of said post-like members, and an elongated, closed loop-like member in interlocking engagement with respective pairs of said post-like and ring-like members so that said loop-like member can normally be disengaged from said post-like and ring-like members only by a series of prescribed manipulations of all of said members, the improvement comprising means for separating said loop-like member into two portions permitting rapid disengagement of said loop-like member from said post-like and ring-like members independently of said manipulations.
 2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said means comprise said loop-like Member having an open end providing a pair of end portions, and a shaped finger grip member removably fitted to said end portions and closing said loop-like member.
 3. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said means comprise said loop-like member having an open end providing a pair of end portions thereof, and an open U-shaped member having a pair of ends removably fitted to said end portions and closing said loop-like member.
 4. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said means comprise said loop-like member being formed to provide two elongated, U-shaped members, each having a pair of ends removably fitted to each other to form said loop-like member. 